While we wait for the big contest next year, here are some facts about Election Day.
- Federal Elections always take place on the Tuesday following the first Monday of November and occur during even-numbered years. The date falls somewhere between November 2 and November 8.
- Members of the House of Representatives serve a two-year term, whereas Senators serve six-year terms.
- Presidential Elections take place on years that are divisible by four.
- Election Day is a legal holiday in Delaware, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. Several other states have laws in place that allow workers time off to vote. A bill has been presented before the House of Representatives proposing to make Election Day a national holiday, called Democracy Day.
- The first uniform date for choosing Presidential Electors was introduced by Congress in 1845. Before that, states could conduct elections whenever the chose.
- Election Day is on Tuesday because Sunday was ruled out for being the Sabbath and Monday elections may have required Sunday travel. Tuesday seemed to have no conflict.
- It is hypothesized that November was chosen for Election Day as a nod to the thwarting of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, when terrorists tried to blow up the English Parliament. The plot was thwarted and democracy reigned. November became a month signifying the survival of democracy.
- Activists for making Election Day a national holiday believe that holding an election during the work week decreases voter turnout. Not only do citizens need time off to vote, but precincts nationwide rely on volunteers and election judges to staff voting booths and interpret poll results, they say.
- Most states hold gubernatorial elections during the even-numbered years when there is not a Presidential election. Holding these elections during “off years” seems to stimulate higher voter turnout for Congressional elections.
